Biden promises Ukraine ‘advanced air defense system’ after Russian missile barrage

Russia struck 11 targets and eight different regions on Monday, including the capital Kyiv, in one of the largest attacks since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February.

Biden promised to “continue to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to defend itself, including advanced air defense systems.”

Biden did not specify an air defense system, but the United States has already committed to providing Ukraine with the nation’s advanced surface-to-air missile system. NASAMScould engage Russian cruise missiles.

Biden told Zelensky, “We will continue to consult with allies and partners, continue to impose costs on Russia, hold Russia accountable for war crimes and atrocities, and provide security, economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.” provide,” he said.

While Biden was meeting with Secretary of State Zelensky, Anthony Brinken European Union Vice President Josep Borrell Fonteles also pledged continued support for Ukraine on Monday.

“I just spoke [Ukraine Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba] Following this morning’s horrific attack on the Kremlin, I would like to reiterate the United States’ support for Ukraine,” Brinken said. said on Twitter“We will continue to provide unwavering economic, humanitarian and security assistance to Ukraine so that it can defend its country and protect its people.

and Read out phone conversations Fonteles met with Kleba on Monday, and European Union leaders called Monday’s attack on the Kremlin “barbaric and cowardly” and “targeted innocent civilians heading to work or school in the morning traffic.” ” he said.

Fonteles also warned Belarus not to join Russia in any regional military attack on Ukraine and to stop Russia from using Belarusian land as a launch pad for attacks.

In an earlier statement, Biden offered his condolences to Ukraine and highlighted Blinken’s comments on his continued support for Kyiv.

“Together with our allies and partners, we will continue to pay the price for Russia’s aggression, hold Putin and Russia accountable for their atrocities and war crimes, and provide the support Ukrainian forces need to defend their country and freedom,” Biden said. We will provide it,” he said. in a White House statement.

“We reiterate our call on Russia to immediately end this gratuitous aggression and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.”

The Russian barrage comes after a series of military setbacks over the past month.of attack wave killed at least 14 people in get more casualties.

“People are under the rubble,” said regional military chief Oleksiy Kleva. According to CNN“Rescue teams and related services are working on the ground to save people as soon as possible.

Kleba said the attack would damage “critical infrastructure” and “could cause power outages and water outages.”

Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister Nyk Popescu asked the ambassador to Russia to explain why three rockets fired by a Russian missile barrage on Monday crossed Moldovan airspace.

Rockets moved from the Black Sea across Moldova into Ukraine in Monday’s attack, Popescu complained about incident published on twitter.

“Three cruise missiles fired from a Russian ship in the Black Sea towards Ukraine crossed Moldovan airspace this morning,” Popescu wrote. “I instructed them to call the Russian ambassador and explain.”

The Russian strike comes days after Moscow’s forcible occupation of Crimea and the Kerch Bridge, which was built after linking the peninsula to the country, was attacked and severely damaged.

Shortly after the Russian attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed to the damage to the Kerch Bridge and said, “If terrorist acts against Russia continue, we will respond very severely.” “The response will be on the same scale as the threat to Russia. No one should doubt this.”

The Ukrainian military said Russia fired 75 missiles into Ukraine on Monday morning, but its defenses were able to intercept more than 40. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said new Russian attacks, including Iranian-made kamikaze drones, hit energy infrastructure and civilians.

Ukrainian officials said the Russians said: strike in Kyiv The Taras Shevchenko Museum, dedicated to Ukraine’s national poet, and the Hanenko Museum, which houses the Ukrainian Philharmonic Orchestra, were damaged.

In Donbass, Russia continued to give high priority to its own offensive operations near the town of Bakhmut, despite setbacks elsewhere and in the south by Ukrainian counterattacks.

“Last week, Russian forces advanced up to two kilometers into the town on two axes, approaching the invasion of Bahmut, which had been heavily damaged by artillery fire,” the UK Ministry of Defense said. said on Twitter.

“These forces likely include units of Wagner’s Private Military Company, including personnel recently recruited from Russian prisons. Russia faces serious threats to its operations. , continuing efforts to continue the Donbass offensive.”